Robber Steals Clerk’s Car During Gas Station Hold-Up

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FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) - Florence Police say a customer at a gas station robbed the store right before closing time.

According to detectives, the robbery suspect had been milling around Shan's Convenience Store on Huntsville Road for about 30 minutes.

“They could be casing the place, making sure customers aren`t coming in, once the lull, once there`s no one inside, that may be when they strike,” said Sergeant Cliff Billingsley with the Florence Police Department. And investigators say, that's exactly what happened in this case.

According to police, when the clerk told the only customer inside he was closing up shop for the night, the suspect suggested he had a weapon and demanded cash.

Now Matthew Lucas Williams has warrants out for his arrest.

“II think he`ll turn up, it`s just a matter of time,” said Billingsley.

Police say the suspect got away with more than just cash. Detectives say the man also stole a set of keys and drove off in the clerk`s car as a getaway vehicle.

“It sounds more desperate to me, it sounds like he wasn`t prepared, he didn`t have a vehicle evidently, and in that case he needed to get away,” said Billingsley.

Police say they have reason to believe William's is the prime suspect in this case.

“He fits the description and also we were told he was in the store by a witness,” said Billingsley.

Police want people to be on the lookout for Matthew Lucas Williams and also the stolen white 2001 Acura TL.

If you have any information about this case, call the Florence Police Department or the Shoals Area Crime Stoppers tipline at 256-386-8685.